Explanations of the Moderating Effect of Responsibility Denial on the Personal Norm-behavior Relationship

Previous studies have shown that the relationship of internalized values (measured as personal norms) to behavior is moderated by the tendency to deny responsibility. The current research evaluates three interpretations of responsibility denial that might explain this effect. Findings support a defensive strategy interpretation: responsibility denialfunctions as a defense against
the anticipated costs of violating one's internalized values by allowing one to deny moral responsibility when making behavioral decisions. Consistent with this interpretation, personal norms predicted volunteering behavior better (p < .OOl)for persons low vs. high on a scale that measures responsibility denial (RD), and, independently, for those with stable vs. unstable value
structures (p < .01). Two alternative interpretations, which propose that AD is associated with a lack of internalized values or that it reflects a tendency not to introspect conscientiously about one's values, are rejected